Closure and sealing assembly for bottles

ABSTRACT

A closure for a bottle of the type including an externally threaded neck having an inner neck wall defining a neck opening and a top wall meeting the inner neck wall at a neck junction which closure includes a sealing assembly including a semispherical member suspended over said neck opening by a radially extending suspension flange such that the sealing member is capable of accommodating to irregularities along the circumferential extent of the neck junction. Upon threading of the closure to its closed position on the neck of the bottle, the resulting pressure against the sealing assembly forms an inner seal between the sealing member and the neck of the bottle near the neck junction and an outer seal between the suspending flange for the sealing member and the top wall.

United States Patent [72] Inventor i id $325,302 2141928 Lowen 215/43 Scarsdale, N.Y. ,4 2 l 19 Exton 215/43 PP 803,448 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall g f t d -2 3 1 9 7 l Attorney-Amster& Rothstein a en e e [73] Assignee Guild Molders, Inc.

Elmsford, N.Y. a corporation of New York [54] CLOSURE AND SEALING ASSEMBLY FOR ABSTRACT: A closure for a bottle of the type including an BOTTLES externally threaded neck having an mner neck wall defining a 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs neck opening anda top wall meeting the inner neck wall at a neck unction which closure includes a sealing assembly in- [52] [1.8. CI 21-5/40, eluding a semispheflcal member Suspended over Said neck o 25/43 opening by a radially extending suspension flange such that [5 1] Int. Cl. B6 5d 23/00, h li b r i capable of accommodating to irregulari- 365d 53/00 365d 41/04 ties along the circumferential extent of the neck junction. [50] Field of Search 2l5/40,43, Upon threading f the closure to its closed position on the 41 neck of the bottle, the resulting pressure against the sealing assembly forms an inner seal between the sealing member and [56] References cued the neck of the bottle near the neck junction and an outer seal UNITED STATES PATENTS between the suspending flange for the sealing member and the 3,255,908 6/1966 Braun 215/43 top wall.

' ZF- g CLOURE AND SEALIING ASSEMBLY FOR BOTTLES The present invention relates generally to closures for bottles and in particular to an improved closure and sealing assembly for bottles of varying internal neck dimensions.

A typical glass or plastic bottle includes a neck which is usually externally threaded to receive a cap and has an inner wall defining a neck opening through which the contents of the bottle is dispensed. Depending upon the type of bottle, the neck top wall may be substantially flat, meeting the inner wall of the neck at an inner neck junction or the neck top wall may be of various other shapes including an inner conical section and an outer annular fiat section. There exists the need for effective systems for sealing such bottles, with the ability of a single plastic fitment to handle a relatively large range of neck openings and corresponding internal neck diameters. Preferably, such fitment should have the capability of sealing against the irregularities which usually occur along the circumferential extent of the neck junction incident to the construction of such bottles or containers. The fitment should be of a construction which lends itself to serve asthe closure per se, or be fitted into an appropriately shaped or ornamented closure cap to serve as a lining or insert. Thus, a single fitment can serve, in conjunction with a wide variety of differently shaped and ornamented closure caps, to provide an effective seal for a range of bottles having a constant external neck diameter and varying internal neck opening or bore diameters.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle closure which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved sealing assembly which is capable of effectively sealing a relatively large range of bottle types having aconstant neck outer diameter and varying neck inner diameters defining a corresponding range of neck openings for the dispensation of the contents of such bottles.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sealing assembly which may serve as a closure cap per se, or as an insert for a variety of closure caps of different shapes and appearances.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a closure for a bottle of the type including a neck having an inner wall defining a neck opening and a top wall meeting said inner wall at a neck junction which closure comprises a closure body and a sealing assembly including a sealing member adapted to overlie said top wall in bridging relation to said neck opening and means for suspending said sealing member such that it is capable of accommodating to irregularities along the circumferential extent of the neck junction. Provision is made for progressively establishing pressure contact between the sealing assembly and the top wall of the bottle, with the sealing assembly being constructed and arranged such that the progressive application of pressure forms an inner seal between the sealing member and the neck near the neck junction and an outer seal between the suspending means for the sealing member and the top wall. The outer seal is spaced radially outwardly from the inner seal and separated therefrom by an air space. The sealing member is preferably a segment of a sphere which is of large radius of curvature as compared to the diameter of the neck opening, with the convex face of the spherical segment abutting the top wall of the neck and together with the suspending means, preferably in the form of a radially extending flange, providing the respective inner and outer seals.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a sectional view of a closure embodying features of the present invention mounted on the neck of a bottle and shown prior to the application of sa sealing pressure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the closure after the application of sealing pressure and illustrating the formation of the inner and outer seals between the closure and the neck of the bottle;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the closure illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, but now mounted on the neck of a bottle of smaller neck bore diameter, with the closure being shown prior to the application of sealing pressure;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the closure after the application of sealing pressure and illustrating the formation of the respective inner and outer seals with this type of bottle; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the closure.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a closure, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which embodies fea tures of the present invention. Although the closure is illustratedas a complete cap for bottle 12, it will be appreciated that the closure 10 maybe in the form of a fitment or a lining for a more omate' and decorative type of cap, provided that it is housed within a cap in a manner such that it will perform its intended function and in particular be capable of deforming and accommodatingto provide the respective inner and outer seals with the neck 14 of the bottle 12. The neck 14 of the bot tle 12 is seen to include an outer wall 20 defining a neck opening or bore terminating at its upper end in a dispensing opening. The neck 14 further includes a neck top wall 22 which meets the inner wall 20 at a neck junction 24 which defines the dispensing opening. In this illustrative embodiment, the neck bore defined by inner wall 20 is substantially cylindrical and slightly increasing in cross section from its lower end to its upper end, while the neck top wall 22 is substantially fiat and extends at right angles to the access to the neck bore. This type of neck construction is representative of a wide variety of bottles and with the same diameter of outer wall 16 and neck configuration 18 may be construed with a range of bore openings depending upon the desired rateof dispensation of the contents of the bottle 12, ranging'anywhere from a neck bore diameter appropriate for free flow to one appropriate for drop-by-drop dispensation.

The closure 10 comprises a closure body 26 including a depending skirt 23 internally threaded at 30 to engage neck threads 18 and a top wall 32, 34 completing the closure and serving as a sealing assembly including a semispherical sealing member 32 and a radially extending annular suspending flange 34. The sealing member 32 is adapted to overlie the dispensing opening and is of a radial extent to project outwardly of the range of dispensing openings defined at the junction 24 of an inner neck wall 20 and the top neck wall 22 while the suspending flange 34 mounts the sealing member 32 such that it is capable of accommodating to irregularities along the circumferential extent of the neck junction 24 which irregularities are characteristically present in bottles of this general type.

In this illustrative embodiment, the cooperating threads 18, 30 on the neck 14 and closure 10 serve to progressively establish sealing or pressure contact between the sealing assembly 32, 34 and the top wall 22 of the neck 14. The sealing assembly 32, 34 is constructed and arranged such that the progressive application of such sealing or pressure contact forms an inner seal S between the sealing member 32 and the neck 14 near the neckjunction 24 and an outer seal S between the suspending flange 34 and the top wall 22. The outer seal S is spaced radially outwardly from the inner seal S and separated therefrom by an intermediate circumferentially extending air space A. Thus, there is provided two discrete seals 8,, S each extending circumferentially of the neck 14 and separated from each other by an air space or enclosed volume A bounded at its inner side by the seal S and at its outer side by the seal S In a sense, the inner seal S, is the primary seal since it is capable of more precisely accommodating to the varying conditions encountered about the circumference of the neck of the bottle due to the flexibility imparted it to by the suspension flange 34. But to the extent that there is any leakage past the primary seal 5,, an auxiliary and secondary seal is provided by the outer seal 8,. This assures that there will be substantially no leakage past the secondary seal and that any small leakage which may occur will be confined within the enclosed volume or air space A.

The versatility of the closure and its novel sealing assembly 32, 34 is demonstrated by reference to FlGS. 3 and 4 wherein the same closure 10 and sealing assembly 32, 34 is seen in operative relation to a somewhat different type of hottle 12. In this illustrative example, bottle 12 includes neck 14' having an outer wall 16' of the same diameter and threads 18' appropriate to coast with threads 30 on closure or cap 10. However, the inner neck wall 26 is of progressively decreasing cross section toward neck junction or dispensing opening 24 and the top wall 22 is seen to include an outer annular section 22a which is flat and an inner conical section 22b extending downwardly and inwardly from the outer fiat annular section 220' and merging with the neck wall 20' at the neck junction 24'.

As may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 3 and 4, in this illustrative embodiment the closure 10 still performs its dual sealing function. The inner or primary seal S is provided along the inner conical section 22b of the top wall 22' while the outer or secondary seal S is formed against the outer annular section 22a contiguous to the outer periphery of the bottle, with the seals 8,, Sionce again being separated from each other by air space or an enclosed circumferential volume A.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the very same closure 10 with its improved sealing assembly 32, 34 is capable of affording dual seals with bottles of differently configured neck bores and neck top walls. The relatively large radius of curvature of the spherical sealing member 32 enables the same seal to effectively seal the larger dispensing opening for the bottle 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the somewhat smaller dispensing opening for the bottle 12' illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, it will be appreciated that the closure, within reasonable limits, is capable of handling a range of internal neck diameters. Although for the-purposes of simplicity in illustration and description, the closure 10 has been illustrated as a complete and operative device in itself, it will be appreciated that it may be constructed to serve as an insert or fitment into a cap of any desired configuration and omamentation.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

l claim:

I. A closure for a bottle including a neck having an inner wall defining a neck opening and a top wall meeting said inner wall at a neck junction comprising a closure body, a sealing assembly including a sealing member adapted to overlie said top wall and bridging said neck opening and means for suspending said sealing member such that it is capable of accommodating to irregularities along the circumferential extent of said neck junction, and means for progressively establishing pressure contact between said sealing assembly and said top wall, said sealing assembly being a segment of a sphere having its convex face directed toward said top wall and being constructed and arranged such that the progressive application of pressure forms an inner seal between said sealing member and said neck near said neck junction and an outer seal between the suspending means and said top wall, said outer seal bein spaced radially outwardly from said inner seal and separate. therefrom by an air space.

2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature of said segment is larger than the diameter of said neck opening.

3. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the suspending means includes a radially extending flange overlying said top wall and forming said outer seal therewith. I

4. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said neck of said bottle is externally threaded and said closure body is internally threaded and serves upon tightening of said closure to establish pressure contact between said sealing assembly and said top wall.

5. The combination with a bottle including a neck having an inner wall defining a substantially cylindrical neck opening and a top wall meeting said inner wall at a neck junction, of a sealing assembly for said bottle comprising a semispherical sealing member adapted to overlie said top wall and bridging said neck opening and a radially extending flange for suspending said sealing member such that it is capable of accommodating to irregularities along the circumferential extent of said neck junction, and means for progressively establishing pressure contact between said sealing assembly and said top wall to form an inner seal between said sealing member and said top wall and an outer seal between said flange and said top wall.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said top wall of said neck is substantially flat and extends radially outwardly from said neck junction in a plane at right angles to the axis of said neck opening.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said inner seal is at said neck junction and saidouter seal is separated from said inner seal by an air space.

8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said top wall of said neck includes an outer annular section which is flat and an inner annular section which is conical and merges with said neck wall at said neck junction.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said inner seal is against said inner annular section of said top wall outwardly of said neck junction and said outer seal is against said outer annular section and separated from said inner seal by an air space. 

1. A closure for a bottle including a neck having an inner wall defining a neck opening and a top wall meeting said inner wall at a neck junction comprising a closure body, a sealing assembly including a sealing member adapted to overlie said top wall and bridging said neck opening and means for suspending said sealing member such that it is capable of accommodating to irregularities along the circumferential extent of said neck junction, and means for progressively establishing pressure contact between said sealing assembly and said top wall, said sealing assembly being a segment of a sphere having its convex face directed toward said top wall and being constructed and arranged such that the progressive application of pressure forms an inner seal between said sealing member and said neck near said neck junction and an outer seal between the suspending means and said top wall, said outer seal being spaced radially outwardly from said inner seal and separated therefrom by an air space.
 2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature of said segment is larger than the diameter of said neck opening.
 3. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the suspending means includes a radially extending flange overlying said top wall and forming said outer seal therewith.
 4. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said neck of said bottle is externally threaded and said closure body is internally threaded and serves upon tightening of said closure to establish pressure contact between said sealing assembly and said top wall.
 5. The combination with a bottle including a neck having an inner wall defining a substantially cylindrical neck opening and a top wall meeting said inner wall at a neck junction, of a sealing assembly for said bottle comprising a semispherical sealing member adapted to overlie said top wall and bridging said neck opening and a radially extending flange for suspending said sealing member such that it is capable of accommodating to irregularities along the circumferential extent of said neck junction, and means for progressively establishing pressure contact between said sealing assembly and said top wall to form an inner seal between said sealing member and said top wall and an outer seal between said flange and said top wall.
 6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said top wall of said neck is substantially flat and extends radially outwardly from said neck junction in a plane at right angles to the axis of said neck opening.
 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said inner seal is at said neck junction and said outer seal is separated from said inner seal by an air space.
 8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said top wall of said neck includes an outer annular section which is flat and an inner annular section which is conical and merges with said neck wall at said neck junction.
 9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said inner seal is against said inner annular section of said top wall outwardly of saId neck junction and said outer seal is against said outer annular section and separated from said inner seal by an air space. 